Portfolios



5. PERLIN PORTFOLIOS July 3, 1956 Filed Jan. 21, 1954 6 gig/Q lll INVENTOR- .e dl BY ATTORNEY iinited States Patent Q PGRTFOLIOS Samuel Perlin, Roslyn Heights, N. Y.

Application January 21, 1954, Serial No. 405,389

Claims. (Cl. 150-16) This invention relates to a functionally and structurally improved portfolio and the dominant object is realized in the provision of novel spring means adapted to closely and frictionally straddle the binding secured to the margins of the portfolio and to appreciably reduce wear where wear is relatively great. Another object is to strengthen the medial fulcrum zone portions of the portfolio in utilizing a manipulatable and reinforcing spring clasp adapted to be quickly arranged over to closely embrace medial zone marginal portions where generally wear is relatively great during use of the portfolio. Other specific objects and important advantages will appear from the following detailed specification taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the portfolio employing the spring clip, according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the spring clip adapted to snap about the marginal binding of a portfolio or book to reduce wear and enhance the appearance thereof.

The portfolio P embodies a one piece cover C of appropriate flexible material, such as leather, plastic or the like. Margins M of cover C are reinforced by a peripheral binding B. Fabric tapes T are secured to margins M by the line of stitching S. These tapes carry complementary I interlocking fastening elements 10 adapted to be opened and closed by the slidable rider operated by the swingable manipulator SM. The fasteners referred to are commonly known in the art as zippers.

The medial zone portion MP of cover C characterizes fulcrum means, permitting the sides of the covers to be swung to an open or closed position as is well appreciated. Generally wear is relatively great on the binding B secured along the medial zone fulcrum portion Ml. To materially reduce such wear, a novel spring clasp broadly denoted, SP is employed. It will be observed that the clasp has two rows of transversely spaced, inverted U-shaped members, however, with the members of one row staggered in respect to the members of the other row as illustrated in Fig. 4. For purposes of clarity the U-shaped members of one row are designated R while the U-shaped members of the other companion row are indicated by reference character UR. The crown or loop portion 11 of U-shaped members R inwardly overhang legs 12 and 13 thereof while the crown or loop portions 14 of U-shaped members UR inwardly overhang legs 15 and 16. For purposes of definition, legs 12 and 13 of U-shaped members R may be considered the anterior and posterior legs of these members and legs 15 and 16 may be considered as the anterior and posterior legs of U-shaped members UR.

A series of U-shaped, transversely arranged connectors 17 constitute means for spacing members R and UR apart. Alternate connectors 17 of the series join the anterior legs 15 of members UR to the posterior legs 13 2,752,9r5 Patented July 3, 1956 of members R. Other alternate connectors 17 of the series join the posterior legs 16 of members UR to anterior legs 12 of members R. For further clarification, the left hand part of spring clip or clasp SP (Fig. 4) may be considered as the front or anterior end while the right rear part, the posterior end. Spring clip SP is preferably made from a suitable flat ribbon metal as shown although other shapes in cross section and even of plastic may be employed as is well understood. This type of spring clasp is foldable, flexible and resilient and may be conveniently mounted on the cover to frictionally straddle binding B and if desired, all along the margins of cover C, or preferably as shown along the medial fulcrum zone portion of the portfolio which of course for purposes of example, may also be considered as a book, etc.

When straddling binding B, the spaced legs of the transversely spaced rows of inverted U-shaped members closely embrace and grip the sides of the binding B while the transversely disposed connector portions 17 encompass the outer curved ends of the binding while the offset or inwardly bent crown portions or cars 11 and 14 cooperate with the binding to prevent. accidental slippage of the spring clasp or clip from the binding. Manifestly this clasp SP serves to strengthen the portfolio, appreciably increasing its longevity concomitantly enhancing its appearance. It is also apparent that the spring clasp herein disclosed although applicable for portfolios may be utilized to strengthen the margins of books, brief cases, etc. and consequently these terms may be used interchangeably with the expression portfolio within the scope of the invention.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others and as many changes could be made in the above set forth embodiment and many widely different embodiments could be devised without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and as shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture for a portfolio having a cover including a margin provided with a front face and a rear face, comprising: a foldable and flexible one piece spring clasp for easing the wear on said margin and embodying two rows of inverted substantially U- shaped members, said rows being spaced transversely of said clasp and each of said members comprising an outwardly convexed and inwardly concaved crown portion, the crown portions of said U-shaped members being disposed along the length of said clasp, said crown portions each having an anterior depending leg and a posterior depending leg spaced from said anterior leg along the length of said clasp, the U-shaped members of the first row being staggered relative to the U-shaped members of the second row, a series of arcuate connectors each having an inner concaved face and an outer convexed face, said connectors being disposed transversely of said clasp and being spaced apart longitudinally of said clasp, alternate connectors of said series being merged with the lower portions of the depending anterior legs of the first row and with the lower portions of the depending posterior legs of the second row, and other alternate connectors of said series being merged with the lower portions of the posterior depending legs of said first row and with the lower portions of the anterior depending legs of the second row, the legs of said U-shaped members constituting means to frictionally straddle said front and rear faces of said cover.

2. As a new article of manufacture for a portfolio having a cover including a margin provided with a front face and a rear face, comprising; a foldable and flexible one piece spring clasp for easing the wear on said margin and embodying two rows of inverted substantially U-shaped members, said rows being spaced transversely of said clasp and each of said members comprising an outwardly convexed and inwardly concaved crown portion, the crown portions of said U-shaped members being disposed along the length of said clasp, said crown portions each having an anterior depending rectilinear leg and a posterior depending rectilinear leg spaced from said anterior rectilinear leg along the length of said clasp, the U-shaped members of the first row being staggered relative to the U-shaped members of the second row, a series of arcuate connectors each having an inner concaved face and an outer convexed face, said connectors being disposed transversely of said clasp and being spaced apart longitudinally of said claspfalternate connectors of said series being merged with the lower portions of the depending anterior legs of the first row and with the lower portions of the depending posterior legs of the second row, and other alternate connectors of said series being merged with the lower portions of the posterior depending legs of said first row and with the lower portions of the anterior depending legs of the second row, the rectilinear legs of said U-shaped members constituting means to frictionally straddle said front and rear faces of said cover.

3. As a new article of manufacture for a portfolio having a cover including a margin provided with a binding having a front face and a rear face, comprising; a foldable and flexible one piece spring clasp for easing the wear on said binding and embodying two rows of inverted substantially U-shaped members, said rows being spaced transversely of said clasp and each of said members comprising an outwardly convexed and inwardly concaved crown portion, the crown portions of said U- shaped members being disposed along the length of said clasp, said crown portions each having an anterior de pending leg and a posterior depending leg spaced from said anterior leg along the length of said clasp, the U- shaped members of the first row being staggered relative to the U-shaped members of the second row, a series of arcuate connectors each having an inner concaved face and an outer convexed face, said connectors being disposed transversely of said clasp and being spaced apart longitudinally of said clasp, alternate connectors of said series being merged with the lower portions of the tie pending anterior legs of the first row and with the lower portions of the depending posterior legs of the second row, other alternate connectors of said series being merged with the lower portions of the posterior depending legs of said first row and with the lower portions of the anterior depending legs of the second row, the legs of said U-shaped members constituting means to frictionally straddle said front and rear faces of said binding, and said legs widely spacing said crown portions from said connectors.

4. As a new article of manufacture for a portfolio having a cover including a margin provided with a binding having a front face and a rear face, comprising; a foldable and flexible one piece spring clasp for easing the wear on said binding and embodying two rows of inverted substantially U-shaped members, said rows being spaced transversely of said clasp and each of said members comprising an outwardly convexed and inwardly concaved crown portion, the crown portions of said U-shaped members being disposed along the length of said clasp, said crown portions each having an anterior depending leg and a posterior depending leg spaced from said anterior leg along the length of said clasp, the U-shaped members of the first row being staggered relative to the U- shaped members of the second row, a series of arcuate connectors each having an inner concaved face and an outer convexed face, said connectors being disposed transversely of said clasp and being spaced apart longitudinally of said clasp, alternate connectors of said series being merged with the lower portions of the depending anterior legs of the first row and with the lower portions of the depending posterior legs of the second row, and other alternate connectors of said series being merged with the lower portions of the posterior depending legs of said first row and with the lower portions of the anterior depending legs of the second row, the legs of said U-shaped members constituting means to frictionally straddle said front and rear faces of said binding, and said crown portions defining terminal means offset relative to said legs to slope in a direction towards said cover.

5. As a new article of manufacture for a portfolio having a cover including a margin provided with a binding having a front face and a rear face, comprising; a foldable and flexible one piece spring clasp for easing the wear on said binding and embodying two rows of inverted substantially U-shaped members, said rows being spaced transversely of said clasp and each of said members comprising an outwardly convexed and inwardly concaved crown portion, the crown portions of said U shaped members being disposed along the length of said clasp, said crown portions each having an anterior depending leg and a posterior depending leg spaced from said anterior leg along the length of said clasp, the U- shaped members of the first row being staggered relative to the U-shaped members of the second row, a series of arcuate connectors each having an inner concaved face and an outer convexed face, said connectors being disposed transversely of said clasp and being spaced apart longitudinally of said clasp, alternate connectors of said series being merged with the lower portions of the depending anterior legs of the first row and with the lower portions of the depending posterior legs of the second row, and other alternate connectors of said series being merged with the lower portions of the posterior depending legs of said first row and with the lower portions of the anterior depending legs of the second row, the legs of said U-shaped members constituting means to frictionally straddle said front and rear faces of said binding, said legs widely spacing said crown portions from said connectors, and said crown portions defining terminal means offset relative to said legs and sloping in a direction towards said cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 358,377 Brintnall Feb. 22, 1887 424,241 Wolf Mar. 25, 1890 505,710 Latta Sept. 26, 1893 619,062 Wittich Feb. 7, 1899 711,834 DOStal Oct. 21, 1902 1,601,361 Hickingbotham Sept. 28, 1926 2,067,851 Lifton Jan. 12, 1937 2,438,591 Wheary Mar. 30, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,934 Great Britain May 8, 1902 

